Nazareth contractor accused in lawsuit represents self at trial

Attorney general says Michael Salavati bilked multiple customers.

November 15, 2007|By Tyra Braden Of The Morning Call

A Nazareth contractor who said his name "has been dragged through the mud" since the state attorney general's office filed a lawsuit claiming he ripped off numerous customers is representing himself at trial.

Michael Salavati, who changed his name from Farbod Fariborz, asked twice Wednesday for a postponement so he could hire a lawyer. Deputy Attorney General Julia Fisher objected, saying Salavati, of Nazareth, had a lawyer but fired him because, Fisher said, "He said he was smarter than the lawyer."

Fisher in her opening statement before Northampton County Judge William F. Moran said Salavati, who had done business as American Dream Home Improvement and Guardian Windows and Siding, had contracts to install windows and do roofing, siding and deck work. Customers, she said, from 2003 through today, have contended Salavati routinely failed to begin the projects, left before work was done or did shoddy work.

Salavati began his opening statement by telling Moran he wasn't sure how to proceed. He criticized some of the language in the lawsuit, which was filed in February 2006, and acknowledged he made some errors and believes he owes restitution to some of his former customers. "I will stand behind everything we did," he said. "I will stand here like a man and take it."

Fisher told Moran she wants Salavati to be permanently barred from conducting business, to make undetermined restitution and to be fined $1,000 to $3,000 for each instance of bilking customers. Fisher said she has numerous witnesses and expects the trial to be completed today.

Thomas J. Arezzi testified that he worked for Salavati for about six months. He noted that Salavati changed his name. "He said he wanted to have an Italian last name." During the six or so months Arezzi worked for Salavati, he said, "I was told not to" provide notices of cancellation to customers. He said several customers told him they had learned that Salavati had a bad reputation and wanted to get out of their contracts.

Further, Arezzi said, other customers said work was done but "not very well." He said some customers entered contracts to have a certain brand of windows installed, but because Salavati hadn't paid bills, substitute windows were used.

"He's a terrible home improvement contractor," Arezzi said. "I've told him this to his face. I've dealt with some of these people. I feel sorry for these people. He did not care. He was only interested in whatever money he could get."

At times, Arezzi said, Salavati handed out paychecks to his workers but told them to hold off several days before cashing them because he didn't have sufficient funds to cover the payroll. "He said these things while talking to me from his BMW or his $600,000 house," Arezzi said.

As Salavati cross-examined Arezzi, Moran stopped him several times to remind him he was permitted to ask questions but not to make speeches. Fisher objected repeatedly as Salavati tried to elicit irrelevant personal information about Arezzi.

Fisher called several other witnesses, including Hal Jandrisevitz, who said he had worked as a subcontractor for Salavati from 2003 to 2005. Jandrisevitz said Salavati owes him $1,800 for a job he did. He also said Salavati didn't return an air compressor.